Awareness programs on World Anti-Smoking Day
 

BY UDITHA Kumarasinghe

THE World Anti-Smoking Day which falls on May 31 is also the Samurdhi Flag Day. The Social Development Section of the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority (SLSA) has organised a series of awareness programs to mark this year's World Anti-Smoking Day.

The main World Anti-Smoking Day ceremony organised by the Balangoda Samurdhi Bank Federation will be held on May 31 at Balangoda under the patronage of Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

The students of the Balangoda Buddha Jayanthi Vidyalaya will conduct an anti-smoking campaign in Balangoda town while an anti-smoking marathon event will also be conducted, a SLSA spokesman said.

A series of other ceremonies have also been organised in connection with this event including the distribution of equipment to 25 people to commence self employment ventures, distribute profits among Samurdhi account holders and offer "Diri Daru" scholarships to students and offer excellence service awards to 20 Samurdhi Development Officers in Balangoda Divisional Secretariat division.

According to Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi consumption of liquor and smoking have become two key contributory factors towards increase poverty among the poor. Poor families in rural areas have faced severe hardships due to lack of attention focused by their elders who squander their hard earned money on liquor and smoking.

Current data revealed that a chain smoker requires nearly 8 to 12 cigarettes per day and spends a minimum of hundred rupees daily on smoking. As a result, one poor family lost nearly Rs.3000 monthly. Daily wage of a labourer is Rs.350. This means, a labourer spends one third of his daily income on smoking.

"Therefore if we want to defeat poverty, immediate measures should be taken to stop this kind of unnecessary expenditure which has become a major obstacle for poor to redeem themselves from poverty," she said.

The Minister said the Social Development Section of the SLSA which identified this crisis is now engaged in the more responsible task of weaning people away from liquor and smoking habits. The Samurdhi Flag day conducted on World Anti-Smoking Day is just only a symbolic effort made to celebrate this event.

The Social Development Section has already made tremendous efforts to uplift the socio-economic conditions of poor by utilising the money collected from the sale of Samurdhi Flags.

Last year the Social Development Section of the SLSA has constructed 641 houses for low income families spending Rs.58.7 million. In addition, Samurdhi Development Officers have been able to induce 9173 people to stop liquor and smoking completely and encourage 34673 to reduce their dependence on liquor and cigarettes.

The Minister noted that the Government alone could not combat poverty.

Those who are below the poverty line should also dedicate themselves towards this effort by giving up bad habits. The Government can only encourage and provide necessary assistance for them. The Samurdhi movement introduced by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has already set upon this difficult task.